has refuted claims that it voted against the electronic transmission of election results during consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified the position shortly after the upper chamber passed the bill following a marathon plenary session that lasted more than four hours. Debate over the amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, had sparked widespread reactions on social media, with reports suggesting lawmakers removed provisions mandating real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing portal.

Akpabio dismissed the reports as misleading, stressing that the Senate did not scrap electronic transmission from the electoral process. According to him, the chamber only retained provisions already contained in the existing law, which were also applied during the 2022 elections.

He emphasised that electronic transmission remains part of Nigeria’s electoral framework and that the amendment does not reverse any progress made in improving election transparency.

“This Senate has not rejected electronic transmission of results,” Akpabio said, urging Nigerians not to rely on unverified social media narratives. He noted that official records of the proceedings are available for public scrutiny.

The Senate President added that maintaining electronic transmission aligns with the National Assembly’s commitment to credible elections and should not be interpreted as a step backward.

Electronic transmission has remained a major issue in Nigeria’s electoral reforms, particularly after the 2023 general elections, with civil society groups and opposition parties continuing to push for clearer legal backing to strengthen transparency and public trust.

Akpabio said his clarification was necessary to address public concerns and correct misconceptions as lawmakers continue deliberations on reforms ahead of future elections.

Senate Denies Rejecting Electronic Transmission of Election Results

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